Report: Aubrayo Franklin to visit 49ers tonight

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, via Twitter, that 49ers nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin will be arriving in the Bay Area tonight for a “visit” with the team.

It was widely expected that Franklin, an unrestricted free agent, would not be retained after spending the past four seasons in San Francisco.

In fact, the Niners made post-Franklin plans — signing defensive end Ray McDonald to a five-year, $20 million deal and sliding Isaac Sopoaga from defensive end to Franklin’s spot in the middle.

But Franklin, regarded as one of the top prizes on the free-agent market, has yet to cash in as expected.

The prices for top-end interior defensive lineman have, to this point, been relatively reasonable. Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield signed a reported six-year, $36 million deal with the Redskins. Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane signed a five-year, $25 million deal to re-sign with Seattle.

That’s good money, of course, but nothing approaching the seven-year, $100-million bank-buster Albert Haynseworth signed with Washington in 2009.

On one hand, it appears San Francisco’s patient approach to free agency could net Franklin at a Wal-Mart price. On the flip side, if Franklin re-signs, they could be shelling out quite a bit of cash for Sopoaga or McDonald to be part-time players.

Both McDonald and Sopoaga have contracts paying them $4 million annually.